“Three Sisters”
from the album Singing Ax
2010
iTunes
We’ve been waiting patiently through the long, hot summer for J. Tillman’s new album, Singing Ax, to drop. Recorded in just a few days with the legendary Steve Albini, it’s a majorly stripped-down affair focusing in on J.’s powerful pipes, save for the occasional mellotron line or signature Tillman beat (he’s also the Fleet Foxes’ drummer, perhaps you’ve heard of them), and the lyrics are mostly third-person narratives, getting him out of his existential comfort zone. The bad news? We have many dog days to endure before Singing Ax drops on September 14. The good news? Mr. Tillman and Western Vinyl have provided a sneak peek in the form of “Three Sisters.” A minimalist dirge with some sonic surprises, this one will hypnotize you with its epic tale of a siren-like encounter, delivered by that voice both gentle and restless that could only be J. Tillman.